Ellie Ames 24 June 2024

Hampshire set to quit transport partnership

Hampshire set to quit transport partnership image
Image: Andy Soloman / Shutterstock.com

Officers have recommended that Hampshire County Council withdraws from a transport partnership involving three other local authorities.

Hampshire pays £90,000 a year to Solent Transport, which was established in 2007.

But officers said the partnership no longer offered value for money.

The county council is also a member of Transport for the South East, and officers advised that there is too much overlap between the functions of the two bodies.

If Hampshire’s members agree to withdraw from Solent Transport, two staff employed by the local authority to coordinate the partnership’s work would be put at risk of redundancy.

Isle of Wight Council and Portsmouth and Southampton city councils, the other partner authorities, have urged Hampshire not to withdraw.

They said Solent Transport worked to make the Solent area ‘greener, healthier, and more prosperous’, and had brought in more than £150m in funding bids in the last decade.

But Hampshire said most of this funding had come about through ‘effective bi-lateral partnership working’ between the councils, rather than through Solent Transport. 

Hampshire members have been recommended to allow the council to withdraw with effect from April next year at the latest, and will discuss the issue at a meeting on Thursday.

SIGN UP
For your free daily news bulletin
Highways jobs

Executive Director of Place and Customer

Essex County Council
up to £179,404 per annum
Shape the Future of Essex. Drive climate action. Deliver for our communities. Essex
Recuriter: Essex County Council

Arts Officer Exhibitions – Maternity Cover

London Borough of Richmond upon Thames and London Borough of Wandsworth
£37,602 - £45,564
Arts Officer (Exhibitions) – Maternit... Twickenham, Greater London
Recuriter: London Borough of Richmond upon Thames and London Borough of Wandsworth

Traveller Site Officer

Oxfordshire County Council
46142 - 49282
About Us Oxfordshire County Council is seeking a Traveller Site Officer to join our small but brilliant, Gypsy and Traveller Service. We aim to deliver an outstanding service that is community focused, trusted, and inclusive, as well as promoting fairness Kidlington
Recuriter: Oxfordshire County Council

Financial Assessment Officer

Oxfordshire County Council
31537 - 34434
Work location
Recuriter: Oxfordshire County Council

Senior Voluntary Sector Grants and Project Officer

London Borough of Richmond upon Thames and London Borough of Wandsworth
£43,545 - £52,767
Senior Voluntary Sector Grants and Proj... Wandsworth, London
Recuriter: London Borough of Richmond upon Thames and London Borough of Wandsworth
Linkedin Banner